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Dear Dr. Parker,

I am a 42 yr old Asian American single woman living overseas in Thailand and likely moving to China in the next couple months.  I have suspected that i might have ADD so I had learning disability testing about 15 yrs ago . I scored very low on short term memory and very high on visual processing and processing speed.  But I still didn't get any clear diagnosis for ADD.

I am on sabbatical now and while I have time, I decided I need to pursue education and getting an official diagnosis for Adult ADD.

I have a counselor here who did a questionaire which confirmed likehood that I have it.  Then she recommended  a Thai psychiatrist who is certified to give meds.  He has prescribed Ritalin at 10mg.   I don't feel any affect, but he doesn't seem to have any clear way of monitoring my  dosage.  I've asked him to up my dosage and he just increased to 2 doses per day, still 10 mg.  I recently heard your teleseminar on Addclasses.com and then bought your book on Kindle.  As I read it, I'm looking for some kind of list of questions to ask myself to figure out if the meds are even having any effect.  I have ventured out on my own and taken 20 mg at a time.  Then even 30 mg but still I don't know how to measure whether it is helping me!!!  I have little confidence that the doc here knows what he's doing.  My counselor thinks maybe Concerta is the only other meds available in Thailand.  We suspect that meds may be even harder to come by in China.  I am willing to take meds, but don't want to waste my money if they aren't working.  I am doing everything else necessary to learn about non-medication treatment of ADD as well.  I would REALLY appreciate your advice on what I can do in my situation. 

Gratefully yours,

Gizmo

Robert, I think I have replied to this elsewhere, and do remember suggesting you give me a call, no charge, to see if I can pitch in to help out in any way. Completely understood, we live in Va Beach a mil town, and for decades have dealt with these kinds of problems. cp

Rob, First of all we have lived in a military town since '74 and have *never seen* a tour cut off because of ADHD. We have seen folks hesitate when/if the child needs more care than the duty station can supply. It does have to do with child distraction from the mission. If he's ok you likely can find someone to hit those papers and move forward. Southern Calif is loaded with good ADHD docs and with your rank you probably could get ahold of someone over there at that Marine base north of San Diego, call the med office, and see what they do about these matters. The docs at Tricare facilities are often not the ones to deal with as their mission is not ADHD but triage and emergency interventions. On the other hand someone there, usually a good nurse, will likley be able to point you in some direction. Testing is, IMHO, not as helpful as a doc who can get in an see your guy and fix the situation. My opinion, you need a good child psychiatrist, not a testor who possibley has no idea about ADHD and no way to help correct the situation. Further it sounds like your guy is reacting poorly to meds and needs a different kind of approach period. This is the problem with labels - I am no fan of living in label-land where everyone is a cutout representation of themselves. I would also talk to my duty officer and review the standard for overseas... I can tell you for sure if you are anywhere near Roda Sp, any of those Navy ports [and I suspect you would be] they all deal with ADHD because we've seen them going over and coming back for years. Call my office and I will call you back on my way home this next week to see if I can pitch in a bit more. Hang tight, cp

Martha, You're so sweet, nothing like a bit of neighborly goings on! The operant word for your situation is simply: second opinion. If you are seeing a psychologist already we don't cross those boundaries and will support whatever you wish to do with that therapy. Just call the office and we can get you in, may take a couple of weeks, but our crew will look forward to it.. we're right over by the Jewish Community Center, and Hebrew Academy off Witchduck, - easy. See you soon, cp

Dr. Parker, I can not thank you enough. I talked with you several times on the phone. You gave me hope and fantastic guidance. Yesterday was the best I felt in years. Maybe 20  years or more. I just listened to your cinch about the person whose body is toxic so the meds made him crazy. I was in the same situation. With your help I have done the allergy testing. I am taking shots for the environment and foods. I am staying away from the trifecta especially. I did neurotransmitter testing. I found extremely low levels in many areas. Not enough chickens as you say. I also did testing to find that my digestive, adrenal,liver, system was massively toxic. I am now taking many supplements and it's working. I am also following the Buhner protocol for Lyme's. I found out that I have chronic neuro-lyme's. I have had it for many years without knowing. I found out the my body has been toxic for many years. I wish that more people would understand what is going on with them. It is not easy. It takes a lot of will power and changing habits. That is in the past. I am enjoying the moment of life. What a great feeling. I have found the answers. I am not crazy. I can not thank you enough. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Parker -- Just want to say I love your website, and it's been a godsend in helping me sort through the problems with ADHD meds with anti-anxiety, anti-depressant meds.  I hope you have a few minutes to read this, and help me figure out how to talk to the docs.  My 16 year old son is diagnosed with ADHD, GAD, OCD, and Depression.  Took forever to find something long-acting to help with anxiety symptoms but FINALLY we did, in Cymbalta.  However, it didn't work well with the ADHD med, which is Vyvanse.  What to do?  Well, we went back to Celexa, which he'd been on before, but with that we're not getting benefit of anxiety symptoms controlled. I really liked the way Effexor XR sounded, but it is not approved to treat children.  I looked up Pristiq as well, and it is not.  The doc said that Zoloft would only treat anxiety, not depression, in my son.  I know this is a lot of info, but could you answer a question?  Are there cases where a teenager could be treated with one of these for both depression and anxiety?  I'm just about at the end of my rope with these psychiatrists, who don't really listen to my concerns when I sit in their offices and try to tell them about my son's actions which he is either not aware of or doesn't remember.  His perceptions of reality are many times VERY distorted, he's confused, has short term memory loss, and I really believe it has to do with these meds and the way they have been interacting, particularly the Vyvanse and Cymbalta, which he was on for 2 months.  Am I completely off base here?Our latest regimen is:  Morning Vyvanse 60mg, Celexa 40mg, Abilify 5mg, Xanax XR 1mg ---- Afternoon Dexedrine 10mg ----- evening Trazodone 100mg (or he can't sleep).Before that, it was:  Morning Vyvanse 60mg, Cymbalta 30mg ------ Afternoon Dexedrine 10mg ------- Evening Seroquel 200mg (he slept great but gained 30 lbs in 2 months)I think we're almost there, it's like we're circling the bullseye but haven't hit the mark.  I saw that you're in VA Beach, which isn't terribly far from me, as I'm near Raleigh, NC.  Would you be willing to see us to provide a second opinion or something?  I would gladly take a day and come up there, if for nothing else but to have a little peace of mind.  Please let me know if this is a possibility, and if so, who to contact.  In any case, thanks so much for taking the time to read my post, and again your site is truly amazing, it has helped me to understand so much more than I ever did about these meds.  

hi Dr I'm a 32 yr old female juggling parenting an ADHD child, a toddler, husband and fulltime online student. I have been on 20 mg Adderall for chronic fatigue and 30 mg of Celexa for mild to moderate depression and 15 mg of Amdien because the Celexa doesn't let me sleep at night. The fatigue has started coming back and I don't think the Celexa is really helping but this is my third switch in depression meds and I'm tired of trying something new. But I also hate that I can't seem to control my emotions. I cry for anything, a sad commercial a song that has a memory attached to it. Sometimes its just weeping while other times I have to hide in the bathroom to get the relief of the emotions pent up inside me. I can't focus on my school work and even with a 3.0 GPA I still don't feel like I"m good enough. I have constant fears/anxiety that I won't be able to do the job I'm going to school for once I do graduate or why am I even trying. And people tell me I'm doing good I tell myself that they are just being "nice". I think a lot about actually talking to a prof about my issues, but often I hold a conversation in head and never actually act on it. I do see a physiologist but we just seem to talk about "how are you doing with the meds" and I often reply "ok" and that seems to be the end of the visit. I find it so hard to speak up to others but with in my own family I can talk freely and am even bossy.

T Weaver, Absolutely consider that he has comorbid depression and check out my video on Anxiety, OCD and ADHD near the end talking about serotonin and dopamine... I think the dopamine add on it down-regulating his serotonin and thereby contributing to his depression. This is covered in great detail in Rules, my book on ADHD meds. cp

Taylor, Many questions: you need a brief tutorial on the meds so go the nav bar here, get a cup of Starbucks and watch the videos on that post. These need to be checked with your doc: - Sounds like you have a bit of depression lingering in the background and would likely profit from a small dose of antidepressant [Not Prozac, Not Paxil]. - Sound like you went up too fast, and need to retrace your steps, as you are a guy who has been struggling for along time and are, quite likely, one of those folks we so often see who just wants to make up for those many years of frustration all at once. Easy translation: try with your docs approval: 50 mg - Specifically Search for ADHD and Depression on this Blog and you will get better details than i have time for right here, and don't miss my frequent remarks on Clint Eastwood. cp

I have a 14 year old son that has ADD.  We tried Concerta and I immediately took him off of it because when I picked him up from school he looked and acted like he was on major drugs.  We then tried Vyvance 40 mg.  We had success for awhile but he started having very aggressive behavior, easily angered. So he stopped taking Vyvance. Things are much happier around our house except my sons grades are terrible.  I am thinking of putting him back on Vyvance but also adding Intuniv. My son also wanted to stop taking Vyvance because he said it made him week at football practice.  PLEASE give me your thoughts.

I am so in need of feedback relating to my inconsistent results of Vyvanse! I’m a 19 year old male. My weight fluctuates between 140 and 135lbs rather constantly. I started Vyvanse on a 20mg dosage a month ago (September 30th 2011), quickly being upped to 40mg. While on the 40mgs I experienced great results. Those being: extremely motivated to get what’s needed to be done, done.  Focused, alert, confident, in a really great mood. I had the feeling to “want” to learn more, for example I had completed my college classes for the day and wished I had more to attend. I’ve failed a math course in college and I’m retaking it, I’ve had real low self-esteem in relation to math and would dread doing it. But when I was getting great results on Vyvanse, I would study it for hours teaching myself how to do stuff I never understood. First test this year I aced with a 103%. At home my parents told me that dinner was ready, yet I continued to do math exercises (that weren’t even required).  While in class I would be rather hyper, but it would be a “hyper-ness” in which I could harness and direct to the professor lecturing. I would be so fixed on what was going on and being explained, it was great. It was as if the windshield wipers were on and I could see and understand everything so clearly. Unfortunately, the 40mgs lost their effectiveness and I was upped to 60mgs. The first day I took them I felt just as I had with the 40mgs at their working peak. I took it on a Saturday so no class, however If I were engaged in a conversation, I would be extremely interested and delve deeper into what’s being said, I would also be very talkative. I was in a great mood and outgoing to everyone I saw that day. I was motivated at work and running around doing everything that needed to be done. Now it’s the second day of the 60mgs and I feel exactly how I did with the 40mgs when they lost their effectiveness. Am I expecting too much from this medication? Are the effects I’ve experience not what’s supposed to happen?  In addition, when I don’t get the positive effects of the medication, I’m not motivated to do work or study, I don’t feel alert or things aren’t as “clear” like when I have the good results. I get pretty irritable, easily set off over little things, which is NOT my normal self. I am such a passive guy. Very optimistic, I was once told that I’m a “ray of sunshine”. So being easily set of over the smallest of things is a clear indicator it’s the medicine. When I don’t get the desired results and I’m irritable, I distance myself from everyone and just keep to myself, Whereas when I WAS getting the desired results, I would be happy and enthusiastic about everything which is normal for me. But I don’t think I should feel irritable and be distant when I don’t get the desired results. So to sum everything up to make it easier, Are the positive effects I’ve mention supposed to happen? Or am I expecting too much from this medication? Positive effects being: Extremely motivated (desire to learn). Focused, Energetic, happy, alert . And if I don’t get the positive effects, is it normal to be irritable, and to distant yourself from everyone? (My parents told me I’m not the same, That I don’t Joke around, sing or just be loud and silly as I used to be) This is my first ADD medication for I was just recently diagnosed with it a month ago, So im really lost in the dark on what to expect and ANY feedback would be so so so greatly appreciated. I’ve struggled my whole life in school and to finally get a little taste of achieving academic success has honestly been the best feeling in the world.   Sincerely , Taylor H.

Thoughts of a patient tormented by untreated OCD (comorbid with ADHD, but ADHD is treated) maybe a realization? "So there are no answers and there is no one who can help me any more than they already have. There is nothing left for me to learn that could help this problem. I am left to solely relying on the Faith and nothing else. I believe wholeheartedly in the Faith and God's Providence, but does that really mean I rely on nothing else? That I just stop all other attempts? That seems despairing to me and is not my aim. Perhaps I am wrong about that. Can it be that that is what I rather must do?? And if so, how? God grant me the grace to know what to do, the strength and means to do it, and the courage and trust to do it alone."

Jade, Thanks for your kind comments about Rules, it's great to hear that others are finding the info useful. Your problem is more complex than simple adjustments, as you so correctly point out. You are very likely suffering from an immune condition which predated the trials of Concerta. Your therapeutic window is too small, too tight/narrrow, a challenge always seen with underlying metabolic issues, often brought on by reactions to food. You are already estrogen dominant, very likely have a transit time longer than 24 hrs for years [do measure it] and a good run at specific food evaluations thru IgG would be likely very informative. Without clear maps you could be messing around with all of this for years. Take a look at the Testing Options Page here for more info there on the nav bar. cp

Raymer, Easy and quick: the dose is too much - see this article: http://bit.ly/lpfXPh The psych just got too excited, as I have about the projected possible reaction to Vyvanse based upon the Concerta dosage, but just went over the top from the outset. See if these titration suggestions help on the linked post. I would start all over with 1/2 of 40 mg and slowly work up to cover the day... 1.5 hr onset is always too much. cp

 Hi Dr Parker, I've just downloaded your ebook on ADHD meds and it has made me realise what has gone wrong with my own treatment. I am in the UK and was diagnosed ADD by a psychiatrist (actually I diagnosed myself and he agreed after looking it up on the internet!!) - yes we are so backward in this country but that's another story. So basically my doctor will do whatever I tell him to regarding dosage as he hasn't got a clue either. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to offer me some advice - after having not much luck on generic methylphenidate (ups and downs, felt depressed etc) I started on 36mg Concerta. The first day I took it, it was like someone had turned the light on, albeit in a very subtle way. I felt more 'normal' than I have for many many years; head was clearer, no longer angry, more awareness etc. But the next day, nothing. Day 3, the same thing happened, but then for the next 4 weeks it was like I was taking a sugar pill. The dose was increased to 54mg which made me severely depressed and my husband ordered me to reduce the dose after a big argument. Now I'm back at 36mg and nothing. However, ever since I started Concerta I have been constipated and in fact didn't 'go' for about a month. I have PCOS but that is being treated with metformin, also low aldosterone treated with fludrocortisone. So yes I do have metabolic issues and even before Concerta had bowel issues, especially before each period. After reading your book I have now realised that I am taking too much Concerta for my current metabolic rate, but here is my dilemma - a side effect of Concerta for me is constipation, but when bowel transit time slows down, this makes the Concerta dose toxic. As the first dose I took had an effect, and actually made me feel relaxed, doesn't that show that this was probably the correct dose for me? Do I come off Concerta altogether until I get these issues sorted out or just take a lower dose - I'm so confused and depressed by it all, I would be so greatful for any input. Thank you, Jade

 I am so confused as to what is best practice for my child with ADHD.  First she was on concerta.  It was helping but not quite doing the job.  Dr. kept putting up dosage.  Defiant behaviors began to appear. Told pediatrician.  pediatrician sent us o psychiatrist.  Then my daughter was put on Vyvanse 40 mg.  Seemed somewhat better but classroom observation showed she was still fidgeting and  was only at rest 9 seconds out of 15 min sample.  Then psychiatrist upped vyvanse to 50 mg.  She became very agitated.  So much so she kicked our dog so hard that he bite her.  She was extremely moody.  Took her back down to 40 mg Vyvanse. and added Intuniv 1mg at night time.  Fidgeting has mostly stopped but mood is often present.  I am thinking she doesn't tolerate stimulants very well.  I would like to slowly drop her dosage and get her off Vyvanse and just use Intuniv.  The Vyvanse she takes at 7 am.  It starts working at 8:30.  It lasts till 4 and night time homework is painful at best. Focus is then so difficult.  Increase in Intuniv made her like an angry bear in the morning she was so tired.  Do you know of any Dr. in the Pittsburgh area that can help me.  When a child is in an agitated state with all these med changes it is difficult to handle alone.  I need a Dr. that will work with us to solve this med problem so my child's high average intelligence shines through.  Please help.  

Hi, . Sorry I tent to just go in circles, really stuck in the past and now fearful of my future. I will look at the tutorials, which I think I have seen before. I've been on ADHD meds, anti depressents, and mood stabilizers and am highly anxious (controlling and never got the tools to calm myself down when i was young). now i work myself up. Now with the possible metabolic issues the behaviors are worse. and cause I am not working and have lost all interested in anything, I am not doing anything. I do try to volunteer but the pain is debilitating and my mind is ruminating at my fears of the future. I've lost all inspiration. Not in the present at all Really haven't had a life, isoloated, PSTD (sex abuse and no love from family, ostracized by peers), no close relationships, no sex except abuse, used to have a false sense of bravado. Now I am weak and needy without any support from family. Cannot sleep. Been off meds 4 years on SSDI. Trying to go natural, energy work, after pushing myself and really have ever been able to relax. Dont do anything and am having major irritability,rage (angry all my life) and anxiety at a drop of a hat( maybe be related to immune/metabolic issues) This is not new but was numbed by meds all my life. Been angry and easily frustrated since I was young. To top it all off after waking up from my unconscious negative thoughts and past memories 4 yrs ago, its like I opened pandoras box. My brain locks onto my thoughts/frustrations and increases my all ready existing pain and I get really rageful, and have to take tranquillizers to break out of it which just give me anxiety the next day. Bad and addictive I have never release my anger, as numbered my family, drugs and meds. Done energy work, but part of my brain thinks I am evil and bad and i am very self-abusive. I get triggered by everything so quickly and my body seizes ip. Now my emotional area all over the place and my thoughts are like the past and fear of the future repeating in my brain. I don't enjoy anything and cannot stay present, even volunteering. I used by able to go to the store but now I just whole up in my house. After being able to some how survive, even though not being able to keep jobs for long, I am now on SSDI. I am really scared of my future and have lost all inspiration due to my pain (horrible musculear contracions - adrenal pain, that spasms in my neck and sides of back every five minutes and doesn'st release) that is consistent, lack of support (i'm alone) and self care. Just in my head. I am afraid to go back on meds cause of the emotional numbing and since I hyperfocus on the negative, I question going back on ADHD meds. I need to change my perspective, but am stuck and have been all my life. Everybody says that I need to heal myself. I'ave been to so many healers and doctors. i cannot leave my my apt that I cannot afford cause of my limited ability to move (pain) and don't have any schedule and what is planning? I am scared that I will loose my saving as i have made no forward motion my whole life. Actually I am 47, no connection to my femine (yin imbalance and liver/spleen deficiency -accupunturists, but emotionally 6. Not in my heart only in my head. I wonder if I have chronic anxiety. been medicating my pain with marijuana, but it doesn't work anymore cause my mind gets really negative. Any The big issue is that I have terrible negative thoughts and low self esteem, recently noticed 4 years when I woke up, and I don't have any coping mechanisms to calm myself down> that is not true. I know some but the fear is still there and to be honest I have been so stuck and out of balance all my life that I'm ether impulsive or do nothing. Sounds like a lot of anxiety (fear of losing control) I really need something to calm me down, get out of my head and move on to find a job that suits me. I want work with people but I am considered controlling and difficult and don't have communication skills outside of talking about myself. Yes, I would like to talk to you by phone and I heard you may be in the West Coast in May. I have had tests that show high GAba, nueroepinephrine, eprinephine, low serotonin. been going to an integrative specialist. So there is a lot to deal with. I have about 8 months of money left before I got broke. thanks Lisa

Hi, Dr Parker.. I have to admit that I'm impressed by your keen ability to really examine what's really going on what really happens with ADHD and its intertwined conditions. I've often come to the conclusion, after, in my opinion, being misdiagnosed by numerous doctors over the years, that if they could watch my life for a day and observe; they would throw these old theories out the window and humbly surrender. I've been told face to face with several doctors that its not a real condition. I still to this day don't claim that I have it because it's still like it almost doesn't exist. You almost get thrown into that fad with the other label-junkies as soon as people hear about it. But when I watched your videos on how you've observed ADHD within patients, I knew you were speaking from a rigorous observational P.O.V. So I'd like to thank you for that. And I was wondering if the neurotransmitter tests would be a great thing for testing that can really hold weight because I'm in school full time with very little income so I can not afford the spects even though they're absolutely fascinating. Some people get excited with a new car - I'd rather know more on how this vehicle is designed to work. Truly appreciative, Jonathan

Dr Parker, Have you had any experiences with significant differences in reactions to different generic brands? I filled my adderall IR prescription yesterday and a new one for celexa (for obessiveness, anxiety) and after I got it, I saw that the pharmacy had switched their generic from corepharma to barr. I wasn't so happy about that especially considering we're adding something new anyway....so now instead of one variable, there are two. The barr is brighter blue (I take 10 mg x 2.5 for each does) and tastes sweet. I didn't really like the sweet part. It also wasn't effective when I expected. I started to panic, but I'm ok now I think - well, working on it anyway. I was looking for the ingredients of each, but maybe it's just better if I forget about it for now. What's your experience with these kinds of things? Thank you.

Hello, I'm interested in your terms "cognitive abundance" and over-thinking, always on edge (never chill or relaxed) as I think that this sums me up and I keep going in circles. I was diagnosed hyperactive younger than 5, medicated which made me aggressive, sullen, depressed and lacking in social emotional IQ. More meds continued for over 43 yrs of my life. i am now 46, incapacitated by fibromyalgia, chronic stress/muscular tension. I have always been a highly spirited person who was unfortunately squelched by drugs and bad parenting. It feel like a prisoner So now it is up to me, Its hard to say but I'm a non-linear triangle/rectangle located into the pattern of a square with very reserved qualities. I want to get back to my true self and try, take risks instead of being stagnant of the belief that I mess up with any decision, etc. Also, I have PTSD. All these labels.. I want to be me, have been on all kinds of meds, and behaviors that don't serve me and a lack of social skills. I believe that I have sensory integration issues, as my overwhelm has a very quick onset. I'm wondering if stimulants or ADHD meds will help the over-thinking/worry/talking in circles. Antidepressants which is what I've been on all my life have just cut my feelings and emotions to nil and I've missed out on a lot of life. Also, are there resources for sensory integration help. As for my fibromyalgia, I am going to a naturopathic doc and pain doc. I've had the NT tests that showed my dopamine and GABA off the charts, while my epinephrine is optimal. Any ideas? thanks Lisa

I listened to your webcast at the Virtual AD/HD conference and am so grateful for the information you provide here. My problem is that I had been doing fairly well on stimulants, (good response but not complete) up until this fall when I changed from Adderall XR to vyvanse 20mg, then 30mg. My DOE was only 8 hrs on this dose, so my pyschiatrist increased it to 40mg. Background-was on Paxil for several years initially for depression, until my pyschiatrist realized it was actually treating my anxiety/panic disorder. This improved through therapy and self-awareness and treatment for my ADD so that 1-1/2yrs ago I stopped Paxil and have only had occasional issues with this. A few months before switching to Vyvanse my A1C started to rise. My doctor wasn't convinced I had prediabetes so we checked it again in Nov. and unfortunately it was higher, (6.1) As I am a Diabetes Educator, I am interested in a possible connection between this new diagnosis, and my sudden intolerence to higher doses of vyvanse. I couldn't tolerate the 40mg dose and I've been having much more anxiety even on the 30mg, and finally decided to go off of vyvanse for a few weeks, and have just recently restarted it at 20mg-of course this doesn't cover me. I am very frustrated by this change and am hoping for some insight into the possible etiology and into the metabolic issues of having prediabetes and on stimulant treatment. I am also interested in becoming a patient of yours. Thank you for your time.

My son is 4.5 yrs old and has been diagnosed with adhd, Ocd and auditory dyslexia. I am sure my husband has adhd although 50 years ago they didn't call it that. His family says our son acts just the same as he did growing up...a handful. He has been on Intuniv for about 2 months and now is at the 3mg dose. It was working really well, actually too good to be true and then all of a sudden just stopped. This is actually more heartbreaking than never having seen a true difference at all. I finally had the son that I wanted to spend time with and enjoy, and then overnight he's back to his old self. Anxious, defiant, impulsive, hyperactive..so disappointing. He is also given 25 miligrams of zoloft and acidopholis daily.

As a general question, do you have patients who don't consistently take their meds? What do they tell you are their reasons and what do you advise them? Do you have information on acceptance of diagnosis and treatment? I'm concerned about a friend of mine (basically my girlfriend) -- received the diagnosis back in mid July, but fought it every step of the way. Always had ignored the difficulties; didn't think they mattered or were a question of focus at all and said she did just fine or at least managed to be successful. (Though I agree with the successful, I, of course, disagree with her being fine. She was not fine -- so many psychological ramifications from having these difficulties) Anyways, she started medication, tried different things...was completely obsessed with finding another explanation for difficulties. (She finally accepted, on one level, that she did have these difficulties). She's willing to see the psychiatrist, to continue seeing the therapist, to fill the prescriptions the dr gives her. But she doesn't consistently take the meds, and I don't know how to help her. Her meds aren't even stabilized yet, but that's largely because she won't take them consistently. She did tell me that there was one week when she did take them well, and she was so much better that week with everything. It's like she knows they help, but isn't convinced that it's really what she needs to do. She always fights everything to the T and I just do not know how to help her with this one. When she doesn't take them, initially she was very depressed for 3-4 days, then she took a partial dose one day, didn't the following day (and also didn't go to bed that night), and hasn't taken anything since then! Because of the little sleep and the season, she now has an allergy-like cold (though she doesn't have any allergies aside from lots of dust) and is very sleep-deprived. She also teaches young children. She did call her doctor yesterday, but was only able to leave a message for him to call her. We've both read your book and Dr. Tuckman's book on Strategies for Adults with ADHD. Any suggestions you have would be tremendously appreciated!!!

Very strange! My posts that I had several days ago disappeared. I did check on my email; I had remembered it incorrectly, so maybe that's why. But now it's right, so this ought to work!! Thanks so much for this website and information! I’m new to this adhd thing, and though I’ve definitely done my review of the research, many questions abound! I have read your book on meds, as well as the article on NT testing. Are there any independent researches? (the company that published that article is a company that does NT testing and is the one you use) Anyways, my actual questions. 1) Why do people with adhd often have a hard time rising in the morning? (provided of course that they actually got to bed at a decent hour and slept about 8 hours) 2) In your book you state that diagnosis by medication is completely irresponsible. While I most definitely agree with that, I was wondering and thinking about it a bit more and the reasons why the general population thinks that way. a) So, what can you say about the paradoxical reaction that people with adhd often have to stimulants? b) If they have this paradoxical reaction, why would taking a stimulant later in the evening cause sleep problems? c) What kind of sleep problems do stimulants tend to cause when taken closer to bedtime? 3) Could having greater difficulty rising in the morning (prior to taking medicine) be a side effect or adjustment of changing the dose of a stimulant? [going from 20 to 25 mg Adderall IR] Could a change by that amount alter DOE by an hour to an hour and a half? Thank you much! Lynn

I had posted something on this page last night I think, and now it's not showing up at all. What happened? I would retype it, but I didn't have it saved and I certainly don't recall all of what I had written. My email is valid, unless I'm forgetting part of it! Thank you, Lynn